According to reports, Steelers rookie nose tackle, Alameda Ta'amu, was arrested early this morning and charged with various counts that appear to stem from a potential accident, while driving under the influence, with both attended and unattended vehicles. Among the charges, Ta'amu is accused of fleeing, or attempting to flee, aggravated assault with a vehicle while under the influence, resisting arrest, escape and, apparently, driving the wrong way down a one-way street. You can view the docket sheet and the entire list of charges down below.

Advertisement

Details are still sketchy but this does not sound good for the rookie.

Update 10:32 a.m.: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a bit more and according to an emergency dispatch supervisor, the charges stem from a traffic stop at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

Advertisement

The dispatch supervisor said a stop was initiated by police at about 2:30 a.m. today on 14th Street after a vehicle was spotted moving in a reckless manner. Mr. Ta'amu fled and was apprehended at Sarah Street, but not before he had crashed his vehicle into several others, the dispatcher said.

Update 10:37 a.m.: Things are getting ugly. Police claim that Ta'amu swerved toward them, that he injured a woman when he drove his car into hers and that after totaling his car he fled on foot, only to be caught and punched in the face.

Advertisement

Sponsored

Officers issued an alert for the SUV. One officer dressed in full uniform yelled, "Police! Stop the vehicle." That officer then said the driver, later identified as Ta'amu, swerved toward him and nearly ran him over. Two other officers also spotted the car. They drew both of their guns as the Navigator came at them, but neither of them fired "due to the large number of pedestrians and motorists on the sidewalks and roadway."
Police say Ta'amu took a sharp turn off of East Carson Street and onto S. 14th Street. There, he allegedly hit four cars as police chased him. One woman in one of those cars was hurt. As of Sunday morning, she was listed in good condition at UPMC Mercy.
The chase took another turn when police say Ta'amu hit a fifth car. Both cars were totaled, and police were running toward him. Officers say Ta'amu than sprinted away from the car. He took off his blue shirt to avoid being recognized. When police caught up to him, they told him to get on the ground and put his hands behind his back. One officer was concerned that Ta'amu was reaching for his waistband, so he punched him in the face. Police got him Ta'amu, who refused medical treatment, in handcuffs and they sent him to jail.
Arresting officers say Ta'amu's breath smelled like alcohol, his speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot. Ta'amu agreed to take a blood alcohol test, and he registered a BAC of .196%. That's more than twice the legal limit.

Update 12:29 p.m.: Here is a picture of car claimed to be part of the wreckage caused by Ta'amu's alleged wild ride. You can see what looks to be a Lincoln Navigator's grill all mangled up. The account tweeted at 2:47 a.m. this morning that his car had been damaged during a police chase.